Okay, so we all know that Mother Nature has spoiled all of my recent attempts at Gulf Coast redfishing, and that it’s starting to make me a little edgy. But whether or not the weather allows me to get out on the water, I always enjoy the people I meet in this wacky little sport/hobby/lifestyle/obsession we call fly fishing.

I am particularly excited about a new friend in Mobile Ala. that I have stalked come to know. I recently had the pleasure of spending an afternoon with Fox 10 Meteorologist Jason Smith and his adorable daughter Emma Krause.

Not only responsible for broadcasting the weather to the Bay area on a daily basis, Jason is an avid paddler, hunter, fisherman, and has his own television program “Jason Smith Outdoors”.

We talked paddling and in addition to sharing wonderful advice about canoeing local streams and rivers, he offered me the use of his canoe to train for the Texas Water Safari! Very, very kind.

Jason gave me a piece-by-piece tour of his boat, which happens to be the same 14’ v-jon boat that The Professor has, although they have tricked them out slightly differently. The boat builder, Mike Lasarge, is a local guy and Jason estimates there are only about a hundred or so of these microskiffs around. They are ideal for local outdoor activities including duck hunting in the delta, running the causeway, and stalking redfish in the marshes of Mississippi or Louisiana.

Of course we talked fishing – conventional and fly. He is incredibly familiar with the redfishing out of Hopedale, LA and I have to say, this in-the-know Weather Man predicted to me (in aching detail standing right in his own driveway) that our recent redfish trip would, in fact, be foiled by the forecast.

He was right.

THANK YOU Jason for a fun afternoon bantering about canoes and boats and push poles and fishing. I realize you report the weather and can’t actually control it, but I’m headed back your way soon and am hoping you will give us hope for a little redfish action in Hopedale?

Weather permitting of course…

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